THE MUSICIANS

Roberto Murray (sax tenor)… studied jazz at the University of Montreal with Simon Stone, perfected his skills with saxophonists Jean-Pierre Zanella, Yannick Rieu and Dave Turner and with Joe Lovano, Tony Malaby and Kenny Werner whilst attending Banff International Jazz Workshops.  He has played with La Bande à Magoo, l’Orkestre des Pas Perdus, Ensemble Daniel Lessard, Vic Vogel Big Band and has played at: Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, Guelph Jazz Festival (Ontario), Guimaraes Jazz Festival (Portugal) and AMG Edge Fest, Ann Arbor (USA).

Erik Hove (sax alto)… studied saxophone at McGill University with Remi Bolduc and with Blue Note recording artist Greg Osby, in New York.  He formed the turntable-jazz group Soundclash, which has played extensively in New York and Montreal and also played with the jazz-fusion group Burdock with his former teacher Rémi Bolduc.  Now based in Montreal, he heads a trio and plays with many local artists as well as the pop group Stars.

Samuel Blais (sax baritone)…studied with François D’Amours, Janis Steprans, André Leroux, Rémi Bolduc, Frank Lozano and Jan Jarczyk and has played with Phil Woods, Pat LaBarbera, the Joe Sullivan Big Band and Yoel Diaz.  Laureate of several national competitions he has performed at jazz festivals in Montreal, Ottawa and Fredericton  Member of Nota Bene he recently toured with the quartet across Europe.

Aron Doyle (trumpet)… studied music at the University of British Columbia, Banff Centre for the Arts and Montreal’s McGill University. Trumpeter, composer and teacher he has since 1987, performed in a range of festivals throughout Canada, Europe and the United States as well as playing regularly with the Vic Vogel Big Band, the Bernard Primeau Ensemble, Karen Young, to name just a few. Founder of the quartet FACT, he is also a member of the No Name Sextette and Dixieband.

Yordan Martinez (trombone)… a graduate of  ‘Escuela National de Musica Profesional’ in Havana, Cuba has played and recorded with the internationally renowned Orchestra Klimax.  Yordan toured with the orchestra throughout Europe in 2002 and also performed at the Ottawa Blue Fest, Canada in 2003.  Moving to Montreal in 2004, he now plays with McGill University’s Big band 3 and several Cuban and Latin Bands: Adan y su Mecanica, Yoël Diaz, Grupo Tierra, La Gran Orquesta Cubana de Montreal, Jesus Alejandro Perez "El Niño"

Michael Wanner (piano)…studied jazz theory with Gary Peacock, piano with Art Lande and Peggy Stern, and drums with Jerry Granelli. Pianist on Bourbon Street in New Orleans; accompanist for members of the Martha Graham Dance Company; resident composer for the Pendragon Theatre Company, N.Y, he has also written and produced music for children's dance programming. Active as a pianist, composer and arranger he also performs regularly in festivals.

Orlando Lavielle (congas)... graduated from the Conservatoire of the Arts, Cuba and was quickly noticed by "Xiomara Laugart" and "Coto", two respected personalities in Cuba, with whom he later recorded in studio.  Since 1993, he has performed and made his mark at several important festivals throughout Europe and the United States.  On his arrival in Canada in 2003, he was invited to perform at the Festival des Nuits d'Afrique and the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal.  Orlando is presently a member of several Montreal Latin groups.

Isaiah Ceccarelli (drums)… studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusett and in Paris at Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse where he had the opportunity to perform with legendary saxophonist Steve Lacy.  Isaiah toured Canada in 2004 with the Effendi Jazz Lab, followed by a tour of Québec with Benoît Charest. He currently performs with some of the masters of the Montreal improvised music scene: Lori Freedman, Jean Derome, Joane Hétu, Pierre Tanguay, Martin Tétrault and Bernard Falaise.

Alain Mercure (percussion)...A self taught drummer, equally at ease with jazz, Latin, pop and rock styles, Alain is noted for his versatile and sensitive playing.  He has been a member of several rock, folk, pop and jazz bands: Anastasia, Soul II Love, the Alex Bellegarde Quartet and the Tueurs à Jazz and has also performed in a variety of Montreal clubs and festivals: Québec’s Summer Festival, Montreal’s International and Off Jazz Festivals. Member of the experimental trio Beat in Fractions, he also leads workshops in music-awareness for children.